Kyrie Irving Steps In To Pay $11K Fine Given To NFL Star Azeez Al-Shaair For Wearing Deceased Palestinian Girl’s Name On His Eye Black During Game

Kyrie Irving, Azeez Al-Shaair

Kyrie Irving Steps In To Pay $11K Fine Given To NFL Star Azeez Al-Shaair For Wearing Deceased Palestinian Girl’s Name On His Eye Black During Game

#KyrieIrving says he’ll foot the bill for Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after the #NFL hit him with an $11,492 fine for writing the name of Hind Rajab — a Palestinian girl killed in Gaza — on his eye black during Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. The #Mavericks star made the offer Wednesday on X, after reports surfaced that Al-Shaair would face repercussions for breaking the league’s uniform policy, which bars players from displaying unapproved personal messages.

This isn’t Al-Shaair’s first fine over the issue — the NFL penalized him $11,593 in January for writing “stop the genocide” on his eye black following Houston’s wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he said at the time he expected the punishment. Reflecting on his motivation, Al-Shaair said, “It makes people uncomfortable” and told reporters to “imagine how those people feel.”